Modular armor support

ABSTRACT

A modular armor support employs parallel bars affixed to a substrate for  porting modular armor panels a predetermined distance from the substrate. In one embodiment, the parallel bars are beams or rails affixed to the substrate and having abutment surfaces for supporting the modular armor panels with their edges in close abutment. The armor modules are affixed by bolts passing through holes in the armor modules and engaging threaded holes in bars extending between the beams or rails. In a further embodiment, the parallel bars are in the form of corrugated straps with lower portions bolted to bosses in the substrate and upper portions adjacent the modular armor panels. The lower and upper portions are connected by angled portions. Saddle clips embracing the upper portions have holes therein engageable by bolts passing through holes in the modular armor panels thus accommodating wide tolerances and permitting tightening the saddle clips upon the upper portions and thus affixing the modular armor panels to the corrugated strap.

GOVERNMENTAL INTEREST

The invention described herein may be manufactured, used and licensed byor for the Government for Governmental purposes without the payment tome of any royalties thereon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to defensive armor and, more particularly,to devices for supporting panels of defensive armor on a substrate.

Defensive armor is employed for protecting ground, sea and air vehicles,and buildings from projectile damage. One class of defensive armorincludes that used on vehicles, such as tanks, whose structure is formedof a thick, high-strength material. Tanks are, thus, considered hardtargets for projectile weapons requiring special weapons for theirdestruction. A further class of armor, with which the present inventionis concerned, employs a curtain of armor panels or appliques suspendedand spaced in front of a substrate. A space between the armor panels andthe substrate permits the armor struck by a projectile to absorb asubstantial part of the shock without transmitting it to the substrate.

For present purposes, the term substrate may be taken to include anytype of surface requiring enhanced protection against projectile impact.A substrate may include, for example, a fixed structure such as abuilding, a vehicle such as a truck or armored personnel carrier, a seavessel, or portions of an aircraft. For concreteness of description,however, the following disclosure is cast in the environment of asubstrate consisting of a vehicle.

Vehicle armor panels are irregularly shaped to conform to the shape of aparticular vehicle and are secured to the vehicle by bolts passingthrough holes bored in the armor panels into threaded bosses affixed tothe substrate. Since they are irregularly shaped, damaged panels cannoteasily be replaced in the field and, thus, a damaged vehicle must beremoved from service. Armor panels are large and heavy and maneuveringthem into position for installing the mounting bolts is difficult.Furthermore, it is difficult to maintain tolerances sufficient to alignthe holes in the armor panels with the holes in the threaded bossesduring installation. This latter problem becomes particularly difficultwhen armor panels on a damaged substrate are replaced.

One solution to the problem of large and irregular armor panels is foundin smaller modular armor panels which, due to their smaller size andweight, are easier to install and can generally conform to the shape ofthe vehicle. Since the modular armor panels are smaller, a larger numberof armor panels is required, and the problem of a suitable mountingsystem is exacerbated.

In one possible technique, flanges are affixed to opposed edges of eacharmor panel. Bolts pass through holes in the flanges into threadedbosses affixed to the substrate. The holes in the flanges may be madeoversize in an attempt to accommodate misalignment between them and thethreaded bosses. This technique, besides only partly dealing with themisalignment problem, also reduces armor coverage due to the presence ofthe flanges.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a modular armorsupport which overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a modular armorsupport permitting substantially complete coverage of a substrate.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a modular armorsupport having improved tolerance for alignment errors.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a modular armorsupport which enables repair and replacement of damaged armor, even inthe event of substantial damage to the substrate.

Briefly stated, the present invention provides a modular armor supportemploying parallel bars affixed to a substrate for supporting modulararmor panels a predetermined distance from the substrate. In oneembodiment, the parallel bars are beams or rails affixed to thesubstrate and have abutment surfaces for supporting the modular armorpanels with their edges in close abutment. The armor modules are affixedby bolts passing through holes in the armor modules and engagingthreaded holes in bars extending between the beams or rails. In afurther embodiment, the parallel bars are in the form of corrugatedstraps with lower portions directly bolted to the substrate, or boltedto bosses in the substrate and upper portions adjacent the modular armorpanels. The lower and upper portions are connected by angled portions.Saddle clips embracing the upper portions have holes therein engageableby bolts passing through holes in the modular armor panels, thuspermitting tightening of the saddle clips upon the upper portions toaffix the modular armor panels to the corrugated strap.

According to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided an armorsupport system for supporting armor panels on a substrate comprising, atleast first and second generally parallel bars, means for affixing theat least first and second generally parallel bars spaced apart on thesubstrate, at least one armor panel, means for affixing the at least onearmor panel on the at least first and second generally parallel bars,and the first and second generally parallel bars including means forspacing the at least one armor panel a predetermined distance from thesubstrate.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following description read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like referencenumerals designate the same elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a modular armor system.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross section of a modular armor system according toan embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a modular armor system according to afurther embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a close-up perspective view of a portion of the modular armorsystem of FIG. 3 with portions omitted for clarity of description.

FIG. 5 is a top view of a four-plate intersection of the embodiment ofthe invention in FIGS. 3 and 4 showing the placement of saddle clips andattachment bolts in dashed line.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown, generally at 10, a modulararmor system. A substrate 12 which may be, for example, the surface of avehicle, includes a plurality of spaced-apart threaded bosses 14.Threaded bosses 14 are affixed to substrate 12 by any convenient meanssuch as, for example, weld beads 16. A plurality of modular armor panels18 each includes a pair of flanges 20 at opposed ends thereof. Eachflange 20 is affixed to a pair of threaded bosses 14 using, for example,bolts 22 passing through aligned holes (not shown) in flange 20 andthreaded bosses 14. At locations where two modular armor panels 18 abut,flanges 20 are overlapped and affixed to threaded bosses 14 using thesame two bolts 22 passing therethrough. Threaded bosses 14 have a heightsufficient to provide a predetermined space 24 between modular armorpanel 18 and substrate 12 for absorbing damage without full forcetransmission to substrate 12.

Problems of alignment occur between the threaded holes in threaded boss14 and the related hole in flanges 20. This problem becomes especiallysevere when one or more modular armor panels 18 are replaced followingdamage. Such damage often includes damage to substrate 12 which, atbest, distorts the positions of threaded bosses 14 making alignmentdifficult or impossible and, at worst, removes an area of substrate 12containing one or more threaded bosses 14. It may therefore becomedifficult or impossible to repair the damage in the field and may thusrequire removing the vehicle from service for repair at a higher levelrepair facility.

In addition, due to the overlapping flanges 20, the embodiment of FIG. 1includes an unarmored, or lightly armored, gap 26 between adjacentmodular armor panels 18.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown, generally at 28, a modulararmor system according to an embodiment of the invention. A plurality ofbosses 30 are affixed to substrate 12. A plurality of parallel rails 32are affixed to substrate 12 using, for example, bolts 34 passing throughaligned holes (not shown) in rails 32 and bosses 30. A bar 36 extendsbetween adjacent rails 32 at locations where it is desired to attachmodular armor panels 38. Each rail 32 includes an outer abutment surface40 against which inner surfaces of adjacent modular armor panels 38 aredrawn by threaded bolts 42 passing through holes (not shown) in modulararmor panel 38 to engage threaded holes (not shown) in bar 36.

Since this embodiment of the invention interposes rails 32 between itsbosses 30 and modular armor panels 38, bosses 30 are therefore shorterfor a given space 24 and more rugged than is possible with the foregoingdevice. In addition, since modular armor panels 38 do not requireflanges for attachment, their edges can be positioned in substantialabutment. Thus, substantially complete armor coverage of substrate 12 isachievable. In addition, in the event damage should destroy a portion ofsubstrate 12, rails 32 may be extended over damaged portions without thesupport of bosses 30, whereby field repair is enhanced.

Although it provides a substantial improvement, this embodiment of theinvention still presents alignment difficulty both for the fit of bolts34 in bosses 30 and for the fit of threaded bolts 42 in bar 36. Also,when damage occurs to modular armor system 28, such damage is likely tocollapse rail 32 about bolts 34 mounted therein making the removal ofbolts 34 difficult or impossible with limited tools and equipment foundin operational units. Repair of damaged units without withdrawal fromservice is therefore hindered.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, a further embodiment of a modular armorsystem is shown, generally at 44, which retains the benefits of theforegoing embodiment while also resolving the problems of alignment andsimplifies the replacement of damaged portions. A plurality of parallelcorrugated straps 46 each include a plurality of lower portions 48, eachlower portion 48 having a bolt hole 50 (FIG. 4) therein for receiving abolt 51 which engages a threaded stud 52 affixed to substrate 12. A flatupper portion 54 is disposed between each adjacent pair of lowerportions 48 and joined thereto by an angled portion 56. A U-shapedsaddle clip 58 is provided for each corner of an armor module 60 to beaffixed. Each U-shaped saddle clip 58 includes a guide hole 62 in an armthereof positioned adjacent armor module 60 and a threaded hole 64 inthe other arm thereof. A mounting hole 66 at each corner of armor module60 permits the passage therethrough of a mounting bolt 68 which thencepasses through guide hole 62 to engage threaded hole 64.

Before tightening mounting bolt 68 in threaded hole 64, each U-shapedsaddle clip 58 fits loosely upon its flat upper portion 54 of corrugatedstraps 46 and thus can be positioned over an extremely wide range forengagement with mounting bolt 68. After engagement between mounting bolt68 and threaded hole 64 is attained, mounting bolt 68 is tightened,thereby clamping U-shaped saddle clip 58 tightly about flat upperportion 54 and thus to secure one corner of armor module 60 in position.

Corrugated strap 46 is preferably dimensioned to permit disposing up tofour U-shaped saddle clips 58 side by side. This is well shown in FIG. 3wherein four U-shaped saddle clips 58 are included on one flat upperportion 54, with two facing in one direction to secure corners ofadjacent illustrated armor modules 60 and two facing in the otherdirection to secure corners of two armor modules 60 which have beenomitted from FIG. 3 for illustrative purposes.

It will be noted mounting bolts 68 are not symmetrically located withrespect to a four-plate intersection 70. This is even better illustratedin FIG. 5, in which four U-shaped saddle clips 58 are shown disposed onflat upper portion 54 at four-plate intersection 70. This vastimprovement in flexible installation virtually eliminates problems ofalignment with closely abutting armor modules 60.

One skilled in the art would recognize that other types of clips otherthan the specific embodiment of U-shaped saddle clip 58 shown, may beused without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Forexample, two U-shaped saddle clips 58 may be replaced by a single barhaving two threaded holes therein for engagement by mounting bolts 68passing through each of two adjacent armor modules 60.

If modular armor system 44 is damaged in a manner which deformscorrugated strap 46 toward substrate 12, as is generally the case,mounting bolts 68 remain accessible for removal of a damaged section andreplacement with new corrugated strap 46 and armor modules 60 asnecessary to repair the damage. Also, due to the corrugated shape andrelatively thin cross section of corrugated strap 46, it can bedistorted as necessary for alignment with threaded studs 52 while thewide tolerances offered by U-shaped saddle clips 58 remain capable ofattachment of armor modules 60. In this manner, modular armor system 44permits replacement of damaged portions in the field using simple handtools without requiring withdrawal of the equipment from the field to ahigher-level repair facility.

Having described preferred embodiments of the invention with referenceto the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the inventionis not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various changesand modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the artwithout departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An armor support system for supporting armorpanels on a substrate comprising:at least first and second generallyparallel bars; means for affixing said at least first and secondgenerally parallel bars spaced apart on said substrate; at least onearmor panel; means for affixing said at least one armor panel on said atleast first and second generally parallel bars; and said first andsecond generally parallel bars including means for spacing said at leastone armor panel a predetermined distance from said substrate.
 2. Anarmor support system according to claim 1 wherein:each of said at leastfirst and second generally parallel bars includes a generallyrectangular cross section; said means for affixing said at least firstand second generally parallel bars to said substrate includes threadedmeans affixed to said substrate and bolts passing through holes in saidfirst and second generally parallel bars to engage said threaded means;said means for affixing said at least one armor panel includes at leastone bar extending between said at least first and second generallyparallel bars; and at least one bolt affixing said at least one armorpanel to said at least one bar, whereby said at least one armor panel isurged into contact with outer surfaces of said at least first and secondgenerally parallel bars.
 3. An armor support system according to claim 1wherein said at least first and second generally parallel bars include:acorrugated strap; and said corrugated strap having a plurality of flatlower portions and a plurality of flat upper portions, said flat upperportions each being connected to an adjacent flat lower portion by anangled portion.
 4. An armor support system according to claim 3 whereinsaid means for affixing said at least first and second generallyparallel bars to said substrate includes a plurality of threaded meansaffixed to said substrate and at least one hole in each of said flatlower portions alignable with said threaded means and engageable by abolt passing therethrough into said threaded means for affixing itscorrugated strap to said substrate.
 5. An armor support system accordingto claim 3 wherein said means for affixing said at least one armor panelincludes:at least one U-shaped saddle clip having first and second armsembracing said flat upper portion; a bolt passing between said at leastone armor panel and engaging said at least one U-shaped saddle clip;said at least one U-shaped saddle clip loosely fitting upon said flatupper portion, whereby it is movable thereon for aiding alignmentthereof with said bolt; and tightening means cooperating with said boltfor tightening said at least one U-shaped saddle clip upon said flatupper portion and for securing said at least one armor panel thereupon.6. An armor support system according to claim 5 wherein:said at leastone armor panel includes at least first, second, third and fourth armorpanels meeting at an intersection on one of said flat upper portions;said means for affixing said at least one armor panel includes first,second, third and fourth U-shaped saddle clips disposed side by sideembracing said one of said flat upper portions; and first, second, thirdand fourth bolts passing respectively through bolt holes in said first,second, third and fourth armor panels and engaging said tightening meansin said first, second, third and fourth U-shaped saddle clips.